The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority is reporting that water levels on Lake Nipissing remain very high, affecting the lower reaches of the La Vase River, Parks Creek, and Jessups Creek, and the Ottawa River remains high at Mattawa.
Chippewa Creek, the La Vase River, and the Wasi River remain above average for this time of year, possibly being affected by high water levels on Lake Nipissing, prompting the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority to extend its Flood Warning to June 3, 2019.
Currently there is no precipitation forecasted for the North Bay-Mattawa area over the next five days. Highs will be around 13-18 degrees Celsius, with lows around 3-8 degrees.
A strong southwest wind is forecast for today (Wednesday), with gusts 30km/h or more, and continuing westerly winds on Thursday and Friday.
Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing is currently at elevation 196.58m (metres above sea level) near North Bay, rising about 2cm in the last 24 hours, most likely due to winds shifting from the east to west.
“Lake Nipissing continues to remain very vulnerable to wind and rain effects, and the current west winds may drive up water levels on the east side of Lake Nipissing including the City of North Bay and the Municipality of Callander,” said Kurtis Romanchuk, NBMCA Duty Officer in a release.
“This may pose a threat to properties along the Lake Nipissing and Callander Bay shoreline, as well as along the lower La Vase River and Jessups Creek,” added NBMCA Duty Officer.
There is a strong potential that Lake Nipissing may exceed elevation 196.59m over the next week, and the outflow from the French River Dams is being reassessed on a continuous basis to balance flooding on Lake Nipissing and the French River. Further increases to flows through the dams will be based on daily analysis of the current status of the lake and river and as agreed to by the Sturgeon-Nipissing-French-Wanapitei Water Management Group.
NBMCA has been operating the Parks Creek Backflood Control Structure on Red Alert and pumping since May 2, to help mitigate flooding and sewer back-up for 350 homes in the Parks Creek neighbourhood. The pumps will remain in operation until Lake Nipissing’s water levels return to normal levels.
Sand and sandbags are available to residents for the purpose of protecting their properties at Public Works on Franklin Street, but filling stations at Sunset Park at the end of Sunset Boulevard and Champlain Park at the end of Premier Road will no longer be operated. The City is prepared to ramp back up its resources at those sites if required.
Mattawa
The Ottawa River at Mattawa is currently at 154.73m (metres above sea level). The water level is currently rising slightly again in Mattawa, possibly due to adjustments at Otto Holden Dam, following several large reductions in upstream flow from Temiskaming Dam over the past few days.
Despite today’s increase at Mattawa, flow from Temiskaming Dam is being continuously reduced, and the water level at Mattawa is expected to continue to trend down in the coming days. A boating restriction is in effect for the Ottawa River and the Mattawa River downstream of the Hurdman Dam, and it is noted that safety booms have not yet been installed at the Hurdman Dam.
The current forecast for the Ottawa River states that water level at Mattawa peaked this year at 155.64m on May 11. Information about the most current forecasted peak water levels for the Ottawa River may be found at the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board website
The Town of Mattawa reports that sand and bags are available at their municipal public works yard, Municipal public works garage 1276 Mills St. Mattawa. Volunteer assistance is welcome. Municipal office 705-744-5611. Boat traffic on the Mattawa River is now restricted below the Hurdman Dam to protect the shoreline and properties from wave damage.
